Atlantic herring fishery closed in offshore Maine

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The federal government says the offshore Gulf of Maine's Atlantic herring fishery is nearing its catch limit and will be restricted for nearly a year.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The federal government says the offshore Gulf of Maine's Atlantic herring fishery is nearing its catch limit and will be restricted for nearly a year.

The National Marine Fisheries Service says 92 percent of the area's total allowable catch has been caught. The agency issued an announcement on Friday that the fishery will be closed until May 1, 2015.

Vessels that had received federal permits for Atlantic herring will not be allowed to retain or bring ashore more than 2,000 pounds of the fish per trip or per day. Vessels participating in other fisheries may retain and bring ashore an incidental catch that does not exceed 2,000 pounds per trip.

Atlantic herring is a popular canned fish and is also often used as bait for lobsters.

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